Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kardiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Ankara Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality in both developed and developing countries. The prevalence of hypertension increases with age and causes an important trouble in public health for geriatric patients. Degradation in elastin fibers and increase in the stiffness of large arteries causes an increase in the systolic blood pressure with pulse pressure but decrease in the diastolic pulse pressure; which is known as isolated systolic hypertension. Cardiovascular risk factors and end organ damage accumulates in the geriatric population, so cardiovascular risk reduction seems to be higher in this group of patients when the treatment of hypertension is optimal. Recent trials revealed that, hypertension management in older people causes significant reductions in mortality and morbidity. In this manuscript, the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension was reviewed according to recent trials and current hypertension guidelines. Keywords : Hypertension, Aged, Treatment